ADEN, Yemen, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Air defenses of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces managed on Tuesday night to down a Houthi reconnaissance drone in the southern province of Lahj, a military official told Xinhua.
"A Houthi drone that was on a reconnaissance mission near the strategic military air base of Anad in Lahj was downed successfully by the government forces," said the military source who asked to remain anonymous.
He said that the air defenses of the government forces spotted the Houthi drone that was on a surveillance mission and destroyed it outside the Anad air base.
The Houthi military authorities based in Sanaa made no comments regarding the downing of their reconnaissance drone in southern Yemen.
In January, at least six soldiers loyal to the internationally-backed Yemeni government were killed and several high-ranking military commanders injured in a strike launched by a Houthi drone against a military parade in Lahj.
Yemen's deputy chief-of-staff died of wounds he sustained during the Houthi drone strike occurred in Lahj province that's controlled by the government forces.
Yemen has been mired into a civil war since late 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
The civil war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others, and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.
